"Very nice log! I just found it. Please forgive a visitor from the wardroom. I've enjoyed reading the comments by those of you with whom I sailed aboard Cubbybear. I served there from January 1962 until February 1965. Joe Sartori stirred a couple of my old memories. While on watch as the OOD on the surface, I broke three bones in my right foot during the big storm (in 1962) he described. Later (in 1964), as the last man on the main deck forward, I was nearly washed over the side when the sea picked up and caused us to stop the refueling underway from the carrier Randolph (CVS-15). I would enjoy hearing from any of you. I stay away from home for long periods (usually a month or two at a time). If I don't answer, please know I missed your message but did not ignore it. Best wishes to each of you! Doc (D.B.) Rushing."

"I served aboard Cuberra from Aug 1961-Sept1963, the transferred to the Argonut SS475. Discharge in Jan 64, Reenlisted in Nov 66 stationed at a Reserve in Phila for 4plus yrs, and transferred to the Army as a Warrant. Now a member of the NJ Naval Militia Joint Command."

"I WAS A TM3SS AND SERVED ABOARD THE CUBERA FROM 1962 TO 1964 UNDER CAPTAIN BOYKIN. I WAS THE MANUVERING WATCH HELMSMAN FOR THE THREE PLUS HOURS WE REFULED FROM THE RANDOLPH. THE CAPTAIN HAD THE CON AND WOULD SCREAM DOWN INTO THE CONNING TOWER IF I WOULD GET SO MUCH AS A 1/2 DEGREE OFF COURSGREE OFF COURSE. AFTER IT WAS OVER I RECEIVED A "WELL DONE" AND TWO MINEATURES OF OLD GRANDDAD FROM THE COREMAN.
I WAS ALSO ON BOARD DURING A HURICANE WHEN WE WERE ALMOST SWAMPED BY A WAVE HITTING THRE SAIL. ALL OF THE WATER IN THE STERALIZATION SINK CAME OUT AND SEVERELY SCALDED A FIRST CLASS ELECTRICIANSMATE WHOSE NAME I CANT RECALL. HE WAS SUBSEQUENTLY AIR LIFTED BY CHOPPER OFF OF THE BOAT. GREAT WEB SITE; IT BRINGS BACK FOND MEMORIES OF LONG AGO."

"Great site---I was aboard the Cubby bear for about 6 mos in 1962--Was a MT2 at the time--waiting for school before being assigned to a boomer--remember the storm on 3/7/62 off Norfolk real well--hoping someone in tubes forward remembers me-"

"I was a visitor on-board the Cubera in August 1971, in Key West, Florida, while vacationing with my family. It was my 15th. birthday, and my Dad took us to the base to tour the boat. The Pharmacists Mate treated a cut to my shoulder(courtesty U.S. Navy) in the wardroom. I never forgot it and wish I knew who he was so I could thank him and the sailor who gave us the tour! GREAT WEBSITE!"

"As a hot runnin' young ETRSN right out of "A" school, ( in a holding pattern, waiting for Nuc Power School to commence in October), I got orders to the Cutlass SS-478 in March of '68. What luck! She was cheduled for a med cruise three weeka later. Three solid weeks in the seaman gang, chipping, painting, breathing MEK, but it would be worth it. Right? Boy, was I naive. The day before the Cutlass was ready to leave for the Med, the powers that be decided that they needed bunk space more than they needed three young seamen. Looking back, they were probably right. Right or wrong, they cut us loose. My buddy Don Marsh went to the Requin, and I checked in on the Cubby Bear.While I was on the boat, we made a trip to St. Thomas, where I found out I had been selected for 3rd, which was not just a promotion, but it not just a promotion, but it also meant that the COB pulled me off mess cranking a week early. I thought I had died and gone to heaven, A few days in St Thomas is not the same as a med cruise, but still a very nice place to spend Easter weekend, what with all the college girls on Spring break. Even though I was just TAD for 7 months, I worked hard and convinced enough people that I meant to get qualified before I transfered. That's when I started finding that people would make time for you if they knew you were serious. I got qualified just before I left for Bainbridge. Thanks for all the help. I spent 22 years in and went on to do lots of other things, but the time I spent on boats out of Norfolk was the most satisfying thing I did. I would enjoy hearing from others who were there too. John Crites"

"My stint on the Cubera was from April'68 until October 25th when I hopped on a Greyhound and ziggied up to Bainbridge outside of Baltimore. It was an old boot camp which had gone to seed. The government spent tons building new buildings a few years before I got there, but not on anything that they would let me stay in. 10 years later I went back to visit and it was all being torn down or abandoned. Typical. It seems there more than a few people running around doing their best to defame the Crites family name. I ran into another John L. Crites in San Diego in 1967 while I was still in Basic Electricity and Electronics School. He was standing brow watch on a tin can. The kicker was that he was a 1st Class ET and I was an ETRSA. I would have never met him except for having a buddy on the Douglas H. Fox. I crossed the brow, saluted the ensign, asked permission to come aboard and the brow watch said, 'Let's see that ID card again'. I thought, 'Uh, oh. Didn't I do it right?' Then he whipped out his ID and held it up to mine. What a coinkydink.! If somebody put that in a movie you'd say Yeah, Right!"